“A little after six.”
Ben would be there at quarter to seven. She turned to see Darrak sitting in the easy chair next to the sofa. “And you’ve been watching me sleep for how long?”
“About two hours.”
“That’s really creepy.”
“I do my best.” He cocked his head to the side. “Do you know that you talk in your sleep?”
That was one of the things her ex-fiance cited as an unattractive feature about her. “Is that right?”
“It is.”
“Did I say anything interesting?”
“Something about wanting to donate regularly to some cause. What was that about?”
She thought back to their kiss. “I have no idea whatsoever. Anything else?”
“And then you prattled on about your date tonight. I know you’re nervous about going out with your golden boy.”
She got up from the couch. “I have to get ready.”
“Maybe you should—”
“Should what? Cancel? No way.” She shook her head emphatically. “I’m going. You said you’d help me. We had a binding agreement.”
He gave her a slow smile. “I was going to say maybe you should let me help you pick out something to wear.”
“Oh.” She deflated. “What are you, a demonic fashion consultant?”
“I just have good taste.”
She chewed her bottom lip and shook her head.
“What?” Darrak asked.
“Nothing. It’s just…”
“Just what?” His brow was furrowed as he waited for her to finish the sentence.
“Are all demons like you?”
“Charming, handsome, and incredibly helpful?” He glanced down at her pile of magazines topped with
She pushed away the afghan she’d pulled over herself. “You just seem different than I would have thought a demon would be.”
“I thought I explained that demons aren’t what you think.”
“I know, but it’s still difficult to accept.”
“You’re not developing a soft spot for me, are you?” He grinned at her.
She blinked. “Not even remotely.”
“Because the moment my curse is lifted, I’m out of here.”
“I’m counting on it.” She inhaled slowly and put her hand against the brown corduroy sofa to help herself stand up. “But Darrak… there isn’t… I mean, you’re not just putting on this front to get me to go along with what you want, are you? I’ve seen movies where demons do that. They have this nice fake exterior, but on the inside they’re all scary fire and brimstone. And isn’t Satan himself called the Prince of Lies? I know I heard that somewhere before.”
His gaze was steady on her. “I am what you see. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Well, if that was true then he was just a very good-looking man, not a demon. In her apartment. Who’d been watching her sleep. She supposed if he meant her any harm he would have had ample time to do something while she was unconscious.
“Okay,” she said halfheartedly after a moment.
“I know this situation is difficult. And I am grateful for your patience, despite the few glitches we’ve already experienced. I know we’ll figure this out and it won’t take any time at all. And I’m going to make sure you and the cop hook up. I promised to play Cupid for you and that’s exactly what I’ll do.” He smiled again. “I have to make sure there’s someone around to take care of you after I disappear for good.”
She relaxed slightly at his assurance. “Then I better go get ready.”
“Actually, I must admit I already picked something for you to wear tonight and left it on your bed. It’s been a long afternoon with you all unconscious.”
“You…” she began and then sighed. “So you really are my demonic fashion consultant.”
“Guilty as charged.”
“Mrroww.” The cat moved past them.
Eden grabbed it. “Can’t forget about putting you back outside so you can finally go back home. I’m sure your family’s been looking for you.”
The cat started fighting her. She felt its sharp claws slice her forearm and she yelped in pain and dropped it.
Darrak was at her side in an instant.
She held her hand against the scratch, which stung badly. Blood welled on the wound. “I shouldn’t have taken it by surprise. Totally my fault.”
“Let me see.”
“Ow. Okay.” She peeled her fingers away.
His eyes narrowed. “I need to fix this before it’s too late.”
“Too late? Too late for what?”
“Shh.” He held her arm in his then pressed his palm against the wound. “I need to concentrate. I keep a small amount of healing power in reserve and I think it’ll be enough.”
“What are you doing?”
“What part of ‘shh’ didn’t you understand?”
The heat of his skin suddenly seared into her flesh and into the wound itself. Whatever she was going to say next was knocked out of her mouth with the overwhelming sensation.
Darrak grunted, his expression strained as he stared down at her arm. Again she could have sworn she saw an amber flicker come into his blue eyes. They appeared to glow with a strange inner light as he drew in a ragged breath.
Her arm felt as if it was literally on fire and she tried to pull away from him, but he was much too strong and easily held her in place.
“There. It’s done.” His grip on her finally decreased. “Damn. I need to sit down before I fall down.”
He staggered, and she grabbed him. He wasn’t kidding. She led him over to the sofa and he sat down heavily.
Then she looked down at her arm. The scratch had healed completely.
“What—” she began. “What did you do?”
“What does it look like?”
“You healed me?”
“That’s right.”
She was stunned. “But it was only a scratch. A nasty one, but it wasn’t anything to get all worked up about.”
The cat darted out from under the couch where it had hidden again and Darrak stopped it with his foot, pressing the feline down against the carpet.
“I tried to play along, kitty,” he said. “I even gave you some cream this morning because I was trying to be nice.”
It hissed at him.
“Tell it to someone who cares,” Darrak continued. “Enough of this. Show yourself before I make you.”
After another hiss, the cat went silent, glaring up at the demon through glittering eyes. Then, before Eden had a chance to say anything, the cat morphed into a woman with dark skin and long, shiny black hair who was wearing burgundy jogging pants and a white tank top. She lay on her side on the carpet with Darrak’s foot still pressed against her shoulder.
